St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-28
FOR THE LAST TIME.
Services Were Held i'm the Sweden
borg IAN Church ON Market Street.-
A Church With n History.

"A ChurCh with n hlStOrY.
The New Jerusalem or Swedenborgian
society met Tor the last time in their church
on Market street, between Fourth and
Fifth Streets yesterday morning, the lot
having been sold recently. Rev. f. C.
Mitchell, the pastor. delivered an interest
ing sermon, giving brief history of the
society's career since Its organization. about
fourteen years ago. He took for his text
Psalm lv.-19:
Because they have no changes, therefore
they fear not the Lord
The pastor spoke substantially as fol-
lows:
There are changes of various kinds in life
Change is written on everything human, the
Lord alone being perfect and Interchangeable.
Our whole life is series of changes in the
process of development. The body changes
from mere beginning TO full devel-
opment. Circumstances are always
changing and our connection and
relation with them constantly change
and even the earth on which we stand always
changes. Day and night and various seasons
follow each other. Mentally we are always
changing. We are born utterly ignorant,
gradually become acquainted with the world
about us by successive changes, till the mind
OF an infant becomes the mind of man. To-
day we meet for the last time in this building
which has been sold and must be given up.
We have been ten and half years Worship
ing here. Next Sunday we shall move into
temporary home in the rooms of the Masonic
lodge on Dayton and Western avenues. Then
we shall proceed to building our new church
at the corner Of Virginia and Selby avenues,
which we hope to occupy in the fall. The
old building we leave has quite a
HISTORY OF ITS OWN.
1t was built thrty-ei years ago for the
First Mpthn6iSt chnrch 4pd the first lxir,
of brick made in Minnesota. 1t was then
used as pubic hall; then the hall of the St.
Paul Academy of Natural Sciences; then as
a drill room for the militia. We bought it in
the summer of 1876 and fitted 1t up for
church again. We have ourselves many
memories clinging about it, A few who came
here with us have gone into the other world
and some have removed to other places.
Many new persons have come among us. 1t
has been with this congregation as with all
other human things, a succession of changes.
While we have been in this building we have
learned many things in life. We have had
many experiences here. Whatever they may
have been OF good and true and useful men,
cries let Us carry them with US to our
new church home. If there is anything
unpleasant in our memory connected with
this building, let us leave it behind among
the old things that are not worth carrying
away Personally have been happy in this
old building. ! have received many kind
nesses from all of on, and have had the
inexpresSible pleasure of knowing that have
been of some use. Changes have come to us
all during our stay in this church. Some of
us came in here in comparative youth, and
we shall go out somewhat gray. There is
scarcely a family that remains as it was
when we came here. Some have increased
and some have diminished, but we have
learned to acknowledge that the Lord has
been good to US all, that He has in every way
kept all of His promises. Our experience has
confirmed our belief in a divine providence
over all things in our life. Though we have
been
A SNAIL FAMILY
in the church, we have been more and more
convinced that the doctrines of the New
Jerusalem church present the grandest.
clearest. most rational and comprehensive
views of all religious objects. | can not feel
satisfied to leave this old building,
with all its memories, without en-
phatising to you the goodness of the Lord and
the beauty OF holiness. AS we go out from
this scene Of ten years church life, let me af-
feetionately say: Il have been young and
now am old, yet have not seen the righteous
forsaken nor his seed begging bread
praise We the Lord
The plans and specifications have not yet
been made for the new church, and it is not
yet known how expensive an edifce will be
erected. The old site sold for $1,000, ana
the new site cost Sc. 900. This leaves 81 900
on hand for building purposes and the So
sue. At any rate the matter will be pushed
and the new church ready for occupancy as
soon as possible.